Castles were the center and most important part of a Medieval Manor and there were several factors that went into building a castle. Factors that affected the floor plan of a castle was the terrain, land, it was built on, the surrounding landscape, the number of people it would support and the wealth of the Nobles or Royalty who were building it. But even with all these variations there was one thing that all Castle Floor Plans had in common. They were all designed with life or death in mind. A castle was a place of maximum safety and this was the rule that they all followed. A Castle Floor Plan was designed with the safety and security of its occupants in mind - It had to withstand, enormous and powerful sieges, and attacks from land and often from sea. It had to protect its occupants through centuries of warfare. You are Hired! You will travel back in time to Europe during the Middle Ages and become a Castle Architect. Your task will be to become an expert in castle life and design, in order to build a blueprint for Lord Buckwash’s Castle. or Lord Wallace's Castle. Use the following schedule to keep yourself on task to meet the Lord’s construction date.
First: Explore the parts of a castle and understand castle terminology
Next: Research castle designs
Then: Create a rough draft then a Final Blueprint
Finally: Present your final blueprint and defend your castle design STEP #1: Explore the Parts of a Castle
Use the following websites to guide you through exploring the parts of a castle and what purpose each part served. Write the definition of each word on a sheet of paper and keep it next to the computer for your reference. Be sure you do not leave anything the Lord wants out (he is not a forgiving man), so review the list carefully!
STEP #2: Castle Research Once you have reviewed the list of all Lord Buckwash or Lord Wallace requests, you may begin researching castles for design ideas. Be sure you stay focused on castles from the 1000 to 1400. As you browse through castles, be sure to look for features that will help you make the Lord’s castle as strong as possible. In other words, it must be able to withstand the strongest and longest attack from any enemy!
STEP #3: Castle Layout & Design
Now that you have researched several different castles, it is time to begin a “Rough draft” blueprint of the Lord's Castle. Begin by establishing the dimensions of the castle, be sure it is large enough to accommodate all of the castle inhabitants, including the serfs, in case of a siege. Next, start to determine where buildings will be placed and what floor (1st or 2nd) rooms will go on. Once you have everything successfully mapped out in a rough draft, you can start your final blueprint. Use a ruler to draw the dimensions of the castle to scale. For this assignment every inch will equal 10 square feet of castle space on your blueprint. If you want to change the scale you must get it approved. Be sure that each area of your blueprint is clearly marked with a letter that matches the Key. Your Blueprint Key should contain the areas dimensions and its label. Example: A – Stables 20 ft. X 10 ft X 15ft.
STEP #4: Present your final blueprint and defend your castle design
You will present your final blue print. The review panel of knights will ask you questions pertaining to your castle design. You will have an opportunity to defend/justify your castle design for the lord. Hired or Fired?
Medieval Castle Design Project
Medieval Castle Design Project
Castles were the center and most important part of a Medieval Manor and there were several factors that went into building a castle. Factors that affected the floor plan of a castle was the terrain, land, it was built on, the surrounding landscape, the number of people it would support and the wealth of the Nobles or Royalty who were building it. But even with all these variations there was one thing that all Castle Floor Plans had in common. They were all designed with life or death in mind. A castle was a place of maximum safety and this was the rule that they all followed.
A Castle Floor Plan was designed with the safety and security of its occupants in mind - It had to withstand, enormous and powerful sieges, and attacks from land and often from sea. It had to protect its occupants through centuries of warfare.
You are Hired!
You will travel back in time to Europe during the Middle Ages and become a Castle Architect. Your task will be to become an expert in castle life and design, in order to build a blueprint for Lord Buckwash’s Castle. or Lord Wallace's Castle. Use the following schedule to keep yourself on task to meet the Lord’s construction date.
First: Explore the parts of a castle and understand castle terminology
Next: Research castle designs
Then: Create a rough draft then a Final Blueprint
Finally: Present your final blueprint and defend your castle design
STEP #1: Explore the Parts of a Castle
Use the following websites to guide you through exploring the parts of a castle and what purpose each part served. Write the definition of each word on a sheet of paper and keep it next to the computer for your reference. Be sure you do not leave anything the Lord wants out (he is not a forgiving man), so review the list carefully!
- Watch Towers
- Great Hall
- Royalty Quarters
- Gate House
- Ward (courtyard)
- Soldiers Quarters
- Curtain Wall
- Dungeon
- Commoners Quarters
- Kitchen
- Armory
- Food Storage
- Chapel
- Keep
- Blacksmith
- Well
- Stables
http://medievalcastles.stormthecastle.com/parts-of-a-medieval-castle.htmhttp://www.castlewales.com/casterms.html
http://www.topcastles.com/
http://medievaleurope.mrdonn.org/castles.html
http://www.childrensmuseum.org/castles/games.php
STEP #2: Castle Research
Once you have reviewed the list of all Lord Buckwash or Lord Wallace requests, you may begin researching castles for design ideas. Be sure you stay focused on castles from the 1000 to 1400. As you browse through castles, be sure to look for features that will help you make the Lord’s castle as strong as possible. In other words, it must be able to withstand the strongest and longest attack from any enemy!
STEP #3: Castle Layout & Design
Now that you have researched several different castles, it is time to begin a “Rough draft” blueprint of the Lord's Castle. Begin by establishing the dimensions of the castle, be sure it is large enough to accommodate all of the castle inhabitants, including the serfs, in case of a siege.
Next, start to determine where buildings will be placed and what floor (1st or 2nd) rooms will go on. Once you have everything successfully mapped out in a rough draft, you can start your final blueprint.
Use a ruler to draw the dimensions of the castle to scale. For this assignment every inch will equal 10 square feet of castle space on your blueprint. If you want to change the scale you must get it approved. Be sure that each area of your blueprint is clearly marked with a letter that matches the Key. Your Blueprint Key should contain the areas dimensions and its label.
Example: A – Stables 20 ft. X 10 ft X 15ft.
STEP #4: Present your final blueprint and defend your castle design
You will present your final blue print. The review panel of knights will ask you questions pertaining to your castle design. You will have an opportunity to defend/justify your castle design for the lord.
Hired or Fired?